ECRL Phase 1 Nearing December Holiday Launch, Says MRL CEO
Phase 1 of Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link is 97% finished and is slated to start passenger service during the December school holidays.
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd reports that Phase 1 of the 665-km East Coast Rail Link, linking Kota Baru to Gombak, is 97.66% complete and on track for a December school-holiday opening. Overall construction stands at 95.41% progress, with site acceptance finished and system integration testing nearing completion. CEO Darwis Abdul Razak noted the government’s request to move the launch from January to December, prompting accelerated work.
Recent trial runs achieved speeds of 160 km/h, covering the 520-km stretch in about three hours and 19 minutes, demonstrating a four-hour end-to-end journey. The line will connect the east-coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Selangor to the Gombak Integrated Transport Terminal, with Phase 2 extending to Port Klang and slated for operation in early 2028.
Why it matters
The new rail service will cut travel times and boost economic links between Malaysia's east coast and the Klang Valley.
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